UTSA Hillel hosts Chanukah extravaganza Dec. 1

(Nov. 29, 2005)--UTSA Hillel, a Jewish student and faculty organization, will host "Chanukah Extravaganza" from 7 to 10 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 1 in Biosciences Building Room 3.03.02 on the UTSA 1604 Campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Enjoy delicious Chanukah food, door prizes, traditional music and dancing, and dreidel games at the event. "Chanukah Extravaganza" is a celebration of the first night of Chanukah, which begins Dec. 25 and lasts eight days.

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"Chanukah is a time of miracles, renewed hope and rejuvenation for all of the potentials that we hold as individuals and as a society," said Rosalind Horowitz, UTSA professor of discourse and literacy studies and Hillel adviser. "The candle lights suggest sparks of new energy are possible and innovative thinking and living."

On each night of Chanukah, the menorah is lit to commemorate a miracle, which occurred after the Jews proclaimed victory over the Syrian armies in 165 B.C.E. When Jews (the Maccabbees) came to rededicate the temple, which had been defiled by the Syrians, they found only one small flask of oil with which to light the menorah, a candelabra used for worship. The flask contained enough oil for one day, yet the lamp burned for eight days, which allowed time to find a new supply of oil.

Today, Jews celebrate Chanukah (or Hanukkah) for eight days by lighting candles in a menorah every night to commemorate the eight-day miracle. In Hebrew, Hanukkah means "dedication."